Residents of Khagaria district in Bihar are set to witness a significant transformation in connectivity and infrastructure, with a slew of major development projects racing towards completion by the end of 2024. These initiatives, encompassing crucial bridges, highways, and modernized railway stations, aim to drastically cut travel time and boost regional accessibility.
Bridging the Gaps: New River Crossings to Shorten Distances
A key highlight is the construction of a pontoon bridge across the Kosi river near Beerbas village in the Gogri block. Built at an estimated cost of Rs 25 crore, this bridge is anticipated to be ready by the end of this month. Its impact will be profound for approximately 40 riverine villages.
Local JD(U) MLA Pannalal Singh Patel emphasized the project's importance, stating, “The distance to Madhepura district will be reduced to 25 km for about 40 riverine villages of the area.” Currently, commuters from these villages are forced to take a detour of nearly 90 km due to the absence of a direct bridge.
This is not the only river crossing in the works. Two other significant bridge projects are on track for completion by December 2024:
- A bridge near Mansi across the Ganga river, costing Rs 20 crore.
- Another bridge at Nawada Ghat across the Bagmati river, with a higher estimated cost of Rs 64 crore.
Railway Rejuvenation Under Amrit Bharat Station Yojana
Parallel to the bridge constructions, three major railway stations under the East Central Railway's jurisdiction are being comprehensively upgraded as part of the central government's Amrit Bharat Station Yojana. The renovation work focuses on providing enhanced basic amenities to passengers.
The allocated budgets for these station makeovers are:
- Khagaria station: Rs 34 crore
- Mansi station: Rs 21 crore
- Mahesh Khunt station: Rs 6 crore
Furthermore, to improve passenger movement and safety, two additional foot overbridges are under construction at Mansi and Khagaria railway stations.
Road Projects on a War Footing
The infrastructure push extends robustly to the road sector. The Aguwani Ghat-Sultanganj approach road is scheduled to be finished by the end of March 2024. The state's Chief Secretary, Pratyaya Amrit, recently inspected the site and is conducting regular progress reviews via videoconference with the project manager and officials.
In a major development, the construction of State Highway-95, with a massive outlay of Rs 850 crore, is being executed on a war footing. Adding to the road network, a bypass road proposed by Khagaria Nagar Parishad chairperson Archana Kumari, estimated at Rs 19 crore, is also in the pipeline.
With multiple projects underway, there is a strong emphasis on timely delivery. LJP (RV) MLA from Parbatta, Babulal Shaurya, has urged concerned officials to expedite the pace of construction to ensure all projects are completed as planned. This concerted infrastructure drive promises to redefine mobility and economic prospects for Khagaria and its surrounding regions in the coming months.
